INTERVIEW: Canon talks “Flip Flop Status,” the Christian-rapper/rapper-who-is-a-Christian debate, and smashing bread into the lead singer of MercyMe’s face

The following interview was conducted by Timothy Payne last month at Legacy Church where Canon performed and ministered with their outreach team at a local apartment complex. It was also before the recent controversy over the sample used in the original version of his song “Flip Flop Status.”

Payne is a journalism student at the University of Houston and today’s guest blogger.

Canon on the mic. – Photo courtesy of Andrea Tougas

Atlanta-based rapper Canon recently swung through Houston for a performance at Legacy Church. I caught up with him for an interview about his upcoming album, his history with hip hop, thoughts about Black History Month, and more.

Tim: Word on the street is that you have your first album on the way and ready to drop a single. What can you tell us about that?

Canon: The album I’ve been working on for a while. It’s about me giving some sort of liberating joy and liberating hope. This single that’s going out soon is about me being able to communicate what is the gospel; how are you able to communicate the gospel in so many ways. It’s called “Flip Flop Status.” I am flipping and I am flopping different ways I can communicate Jesus on a track.

Tim: Are there any guest features or any surprises for the album?

Canon: Swoope. We are looking to get Christon Gray and Andy Mineo. I’m going to surprise y’all. I can’t tell y’all now but give it about three weeks.

Canon: Nah. I could, but I think it’s too traditional. Everybody does that. We can evolve and be a little more creative. I think we need to do new things in our genre. It’s just a story, a journey, where hopefully at the end people will see the Lord.

Tim: What is your history with hip hop and Christian hip hop?

Canon: I’ve been rapping since I was 10 years old it’s been about 13 years. I’ve always listened to hip hop. My mom introduced me to Christian hip hop and it was hard for me to take it serious at first but I heard it and was like, “This ain’t that bad.”

I remember the first people I listened to were Gospel Gangstaz. But my biggest influences were like people in the secular world. Listening to Christian hip hop gave me some sort of hope for a different direction instead listening to secular music.

Canon raps at Legacy Church. – Photo courtesy ofAndrea Tougas

Tim: There has been a lot of debate over calling yourself a “Christian rapper” or “rapper-who-is-a-Christian.” Which one do you prefer?

Canon: What I don’t prefer is “Gospel Rapper.” It just sounds corny to me. I am not a “hip hop Kirk Franklin.” I would really prefer for people just to call it “hip hop.” At the end of the day people know I’m a believer.

Tim: What are your thoughts and feelings about Black History Month?

Canon: I think it is real important. We tend to forget where we came from. Obviously, I always had a different experience with black history because I didn’t grow up in slavery. I didn’t grow up in the oppression of the black man. My experience won’t be the same as my mother or my grandmother.

I have an appreciation for it, I do honor the month and the people before me, but my appreciation won’t be as strong as theirs. There are other races that been through some stuff too.

Canon: Haha. Nobody called me the “Bread Man” – they just laugh. I like to have fun and have a good time with people. There aren’t too many people who can slap Bart (Millard) from MercyMe with bread in his face.